This blog contains a series of movie segments to be used to brainstorm, warm up, follow up, and activate schemata, preparing the students for the topic that will be discussed in class. Here you will find the segments, the lesson plans, and varied topics to foster conversation. You may use the activities for a full two-hour class or they can be used separately to brainstorm or wrap up the topic, focusing on conversation, vocabulary and listening comprehension.

Friday, December 20, 2013

My dear friends,

I'm going on vacation now. I really need to rest and recharge the batteries. Salvador and its beaches are waiting for me. I wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a perfect 2014. New posts are coming up in January 2014. See you soon!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

When a Stranger Calls is a classic. In the 80's, it was probably one of the first (good) movies about an urban legend. Urban Legend, though, is just average, but this scene is great, especially because it explains what an urban legend is. Moreover, the scene is great. However, I recommend you use them with adults only.

I. Watch the movie segment and answer these questions, based on the teacher's explanation and happenings in the segment.

1. What is an urban legend?

2. What is a cultural admonition?

3. Do urban legends really happen in real life?

4. What is the cultural admonition in the story about the babysitter?

5. What is the urban legend about pop rocks?

6. Who's Mike?

7. Think about 5 urban legends you have heard of where you live. Then think about the cultural admonition behind the story.

Ex: There is a fake nurse who steals newly born babies in hospitals.

Cultural Admonition: Have an eye on your baby at all times or you may lose it forever.

II. Watch the segment from When a Stranger Calls and answer the questions.

1. What are the similarities between this scene and the one described by the professor in Urban Legend?
2. Do you think it is an urban legend? Is it still a common legend or it outdated?
3. What do you think will happen next?
4. Would the technology we have today change the situation of the character? How so?MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - URBAN LEGEND

MY OTHER BLOG

Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals

About Me

I'm a teacher at Casa Thomas Jefferson, Brasilia, Brazil. I'm a Branch Coordinator and Teacher Trainer as well. I really like movies and seeing them with "different" eyes, trying to see how I can use them in my classroom. Recently, I have dedicated my ideas to grammar activities with movie segments because, apparently, teachers use movies for many purposes, but grammar. Working with movie segments fosters students' production and interest. I truly believe that grammar exercises should be attractive. I have just developed a new blog for movie segments to enhance topic based classes, focusing on conversation, listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. If you have suggestions for the blogs and the activities, just say it!

Casa Thomas Jefferson

O Inglês Como Deve Ser

Welcome

The main purpose of this blog is to share activities to enhance the teacher's lesson plan. They will not replace the course book, but they will make the lessons more attractive and richer. Share your warm-up activity with movie segments too. You may email it to me at claudioazevedo@thomas.org.br and the activity will be credited to you with a link to your own site if it's the case. Give me suggestions for topics and segments too, please. Isn't sharing just fantastic?